Genomic Health for Victoria

The Clinical Network and McCabe Centre for Cancer recently wrote a submission to the call for responses to the 'Genomic Health Care for Victoria - A Discussion Paper', released by the Department of Health and Human Services.

The discussion paper is part of the process for developing a new Victorian genetic and genomic services strategy. The proposed strategy aims to provide a framework for guiding the appropriate service and infrastructure planning of public genetic and genomic healthcare in Victoria. The framework is expected to be completed by late 2016.

Special thanks to the Clinical Network members, Prof Finlay Macrae, Dr Clara Gaff, Elly Lynch and A/Prof Lara Lipton who contributed to this piece of work. You can find the discussion paper here and a copy of the Clinical Network response can be requested via clinicalnetwork@cancervic.org.au

PACCT is underway!

Christie Allan has recently been employed by the Clinical Network, to work on the Promotion and Awareness of Cancer Clinical Trials (PACCT) project.

Christie is currently completing a Bachelor of Health Science with Honours at Monash University, and is working on a thesis exploring the primary care engagement adolescent and young adult cancer patients have with a general practitioner.

She is also co-chair of the Victorian and Tasmanian Youth Cancer Advisory Board. The PACCT project, funded by the Ian Potter Foundation, seeks to improve the lay accessibility of the Victorian Cancer Trials Link (VCTL) website for consumers.

Calling for focus group consumer participants

To inform the PACCT project, a series of focus groups are being held with consumers, to assess their impressions of the design and usability of the current VCTL website. If you know of anyone who would be interested in participating in these focus groups or if you are interested in learning more about PACCT, please contact Christie at christie.allan@cancervic.org.au or on 9514 6347.

Cancer Trials Management Scheme (CTMS) competitive grant

The Clinical Network grant will provide up to $632K of funding over three years and there will be at least two and up to four proposals funded. Expressions of interest closed the 7th of October, thank you to all who applied. The grant round aims to improve patient's access to high quality clinical trials and build quality cancer clinical trial capacity. Proposals will also be assessed on the following criteria:

The proposal is feasible, with a sound design to meet the proposal's aims within the timelines of the grant and that the site is equipped with the skills, expertise and infrastructure to carry-out the proposal's activities.

The anticipated impact from the implementation of the proposal is clear, measurable and has cross applicability in the national and potentially international interest.

That there is a suitable plan for sustaining the proposed activities after the funding has come to an end.

An innovative approach that has the potential to significantly improve the recruitment of patients to trials or the efficiency of clinical trials in Victoria.

Clinical trial sites must already be a recipient of the trials data grants to be eligible to apply for this grant and must be undertaking ethically approved, oncology treatment intervention trials in Victoria.

Cancer Care Coordinators Mapping project

The role of cancer care coordinators can vary enormously. The Clinical Network is working with Deakin University on a project aiming to identify the geographic location and scope of practice of cancer care coordinators in Victoria.

An online survey was disseminated in July through 15 peak organisations for oncology health professionals to individuals whose work involved coordinating the care of cancer patients in Victoria. Data is being analysed from 91 respondents working in care coordination. The preliminary survey results suggest that the cancer care coordinator workforce in Victoria is diverse and there is considerable demand for the service. The write up of the project will occur before the end of the year. Stay tuned.

Medical Treatment Planning and Decisions Bill 2016 introduced

The Victorian Minister for Health introduced the Medical Treatment Planning and Decisions Bill on 13 September 2016. The Bill largely reflects the proposals made in the Department of Health and Human Services discussion paper that preceded the draft legislation (Simplifying medical treatment decision making and advance care planning). Among other elements, the Bill proposes to:

Repeal the Medical Treatment Act 1988 and make significant changes to the medical decision-making provisions of the Guardianship and Administration Act 1986

Oesophagogastric Cancer Summit Summary Report

Improving outcomes for people with Oesophagogastric (OG) cancer is particularly challenging. Chances for early detection are slim and many present at a late stage of disease. Eighty members of OG cancer multidisciplinary teams across Victoria gathered in August to review current variations in care and identify opportunities to improve the outcomes and experiences of care. The OG Summit Working Party will reconvene in October to prioritise actions and agree short-term plan of activities for state-wide and local implementation.
Read the Oesophagogastric cancer summit summary report - September 2016

Upcoming events

Advance Care Planning for the Perioperative Clinician

Peter MacCallum and the University of Melbourne are holding a workshop on "Advance Care Planning for the Perioperative Clinician". This is at the Victorian Comprehensive Cancer Centre on Friday November 11. The workshop will provide an overview of the state of Advance Care Planning in Victoria, the medicolegal ramifications and a new communications model to approach ACP discussions in the perioperative setting. The intended audience is any clinician - including anaesthetists, surgeons, intensivists, perioperative/ICU nurses, social workers etc. that work closely with patients in the perioperative period. Register here .

Teaching Communication in Healthcare Conference and Education Program

Registrations are now open for the inaugural Teaching Communication in Healthcare Conference and Education Program, 6-9 December 2016 in Melbourne.

Two more things...

The Access to Medicinal Cannabis Act 2016 (the Act) establishes a system for the regulation, manufacture, supply, prescription and administration of medicinal cannabis in Victoria. The Victorian Government is taking a phased approach to implementation of the medicinal cannabis scheme. Read a fact sheet which summarises the Act .